Points of Initial Agreement (Abu Salim Ceasefire)

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Country/entity: Libya
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Points of Initial Agreement (Abu Salim Ceasefire)
Date: 25 Feb 2017
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Libyan Conflicts (1969 - 1994) (2011 - )
Agreements relate to two distinct conflict dyads.
Libya-Chad. Since the 1970s, Libya under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had a tense relationship with its neighbour Chad, predominantly focused on the resource-rich Aouzou Strip in northern Chad. Libyan claims of the Aouzou Strip were held in an un-ratified treaty between France and Italy in 1935, similarly Chadian claims of the Strip were argued with support of a 1955 treaty between Libya and France. In 1973, Libya effectively annexed the Strip to gain access to natural resources. This spurred cross-border clashes between 1979 until 1987 until escalated to a brief war known as the Toyota War, wherein Chadian government troops succeeded in repelling Libyan forces. A brief and repeatedly violated ceasefire was held from 1987-88, followed by a series of unsuccessful negotiations, until an International Court of Justice ruling in 1994, which granted sovereignty of the Strip to Chad.

Libya post-Gaddafi. Gaddafi’s downfall following the Libyan Civil War in 2011-2012, led to several factions fighting for the country’s leadership. Since 2013, the country effectively split into three entities, with the National Army controlling the east including the city of Benghazi, and the New General National Congress and their militias such as the Golden Dawn controlling the northwest including the capital of Tripoli. Significant portions of the country in the south-west are currently held by Tuareg forces. The civil war and chaos continued into 2014 as the General National Congress refused to disband after the expiry of its mandate, resulting in eruption of mass protests. The UN efforts continue to broker peace between the Libyan Army and the Libya Dawn factions, and a partial ceasefire was declared in January 2015. A new interim-government (Tunisia-based) called ‘Government of National Accord’ is formed with the backing of UN despite the refusal of the other forces to recognise its authority and arrived to Tripoli with the UN in 2016. A state of emergency was declared by the UN backed government amid clashed between rival militia in Tripoli’s southern suburbs. Since April 2019 there has been sustained fighting between the Libyan National Army and the UN-backed government in Tripoli as the Libyan National Army aims to seize Tripoli.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Libyan local processes
Parties: Council of Chairmen and the Abu Salim Municipal Council
Third parties: In attendance was H.E. the Minister of Defence and H.E. the Minister of Health, the Director of Operations, the Head of the Presidential Guard and his assistants, the Director of Security for Tripoli, Leaders of Tripoli, Tawjura, Ayan Tarhounah, Gharyan, and the High Council for Reconciliation in Greater Tripoli.
Description: Short agreement mediated by local council in collaboration with Central Libyan actors regarding a ceasefire between two competing quasi-state armed groups. Agreement provides for the creation of a line of separation between the groups, managed by a force loyal to the Ministry of Defence (belonging to the Government of National Accord).

Agreement document: LY_170225_Abu Salim_Points_of_Initial_Agreement_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): LY_170225_Abu Salim_Points_of_Initial_Agreement_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: Page 1, This agreement was made under the auspices of the Council of Chairmen and the Abu Salim Municipal Council. In attendance was H.E. the Minister of Defence and H.E. the Minister of Health, in the wisdom of reconciliation, and Director of Operations, the Head of the Presidential Guard and his assistants, the Director of Security for Tripoli, Leaders of Tripoli, Tawjura, Ayan Tarhounah, Gharyan, and the High Council for Reconciliation in Greater Tripoli.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, First: Determine that the specific time for a final ceasefire is at 11.30 pm today.
Page 1, Second: The group of Installation Guards (al-Baraki) will withdraw from the former Counter-Terrorism Headquarters to the military police headquarters (formerly Abu Salim Military Prison). The subject of this headquarters [the military police HQ] will be discussed among the [other] agenda items that will be discussed in the final agreement through the Joint Committee for Dispute Resolution. The Central Security Forces will withdraw from Abu Salim to their headquarters. 

Page 1, Third: A force from the Ministries of Defence and Interior will separate the two conflict parties and will station [clusters of] three armed vehicles at several points along the contact line. These points are as follows:
1. In front of the former Counter-Terrorism HQ. 
2. In front of the former al-Fatih Souq 
3. In front of the People’s Square. 
4. In front of the Military Police Roundabout 
5. In front of the former square of the Abusha’lah Mosque 
6. In front of the Abusha’lah Mosque 

Page 1, ... Fifth: Treat those wounded during the fighting from both sides in clinics and hospitals according to the type of treatment [needed] and taking into account the sanctity of hospitals.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 1, Fourth: Establish a committee to monitor the ceasefire, determining the time and location of ceasefire violations by the conflict parties.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: al-Wasat, ‘Complete Text of the Ceasefire in Abu Salim’, 25 February 2017,
http://www.alwasat.ly/ar/news/libya/133939

Points of Initial Agreement (Abu Salim Ceasefire)

First:

Determine that the specific time for a final ceasefire is at 11.30 pm today.

Second:

The group of Installation Guards (al-Baraki) will withdraw from the former Counter-Terrorism Headquarters to the military police headquarters (formerly Abu Salim Military Prison).

The subject of this headquarters [the military police HQ] will be discussed among the [other] agenda items that will be discussed in the final agreement through the Joint Committee for Dispute Resolution.

The Central Security Forces will withdraw from Abu Salim to their headquarters.

Third:

A force from the Ministries of Defence and Interior will separate the two conflict parties and will station [clusters of] three armed vehicles at several points along the contact line.

These points are as follows:

In front of the former Counter-Terrorism HQ.

In front of the former al-Fatih Souq

In front of the People’s Square

In front of the Military Police Roundabout

In front of the former square of the Abusha’lah Mosque

In front of the Abusha’lah Mosque

Fourth:

Establish a committee to monitor the ceasefire, determining the time and location of ceasefire violations by the conflict parties.

Fifth:

Treat those wounded during the fighting from both sides in clinics and hospitals according to the type of treatment [needed] and taking into account the sanctity of hospitals.

This agreement was made under the auspices of the Council of Chairmen and the Abu Salim Municipal Council.

In attendance was H.E. the Minister of Defence and H.E. the Minister of Health, in the wisdom of reconciliation, and Director of Operations, the Head of the Presidential Guard and his assistants, the Director of Security for Tripoli, Leaders of Tripoli, Tawjura, Ayan Tarhounah, Gharyan, and the High Council for Reconciliation in Greater Tripoli.

Issued in Tripoli, Friday 25 February 2017